A Voice on the Global Stage
OUR writer was recently invited to attend the Finals of a prestigious public speaking competition at Taylor’s College, Lakeside Campus. This annual event is organised by the English-Speaking Union (ESU) of Malaysia in collaboration with Taylor’s College and supported by the Malaysian Institute of Debating and Public Speaking (MIDP) and the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA).
This year’s theme, ‘We know what we are, but not what we may be’ – a thought-provoking quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet – challenged participants to explore identity, potential and the future.
The competition began with the Preliminary and Semi-Final rounds conducted online, allowing students from across Malaysia to participate. The Malaysian National Finals, however, took place live at Taylor’s College. The national winner will go on to represent Malaysia at the International Finals in London, United Kingdom (UK), from May 12-17.
Marking its 45th edition, the International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) is the largest event of its kind in the world. It brings together young speakers aged 16 to 20 from over 40 countries for a week of inspiring speeches, cultural exchange, and global connection.
Judging Criteria and Preparation
Participants were evaluated based on four key areas: Expression and Delivery, Reasoning and Evidence, Organisation and Prioritisation, and – in the Finals – an additional criterion: Listening and Response.
To prepare contestants, a special Zoom workshop titled ‘Captivate and Communicate’ was held on Saturday, March 8. Featuring guest students from ESU Mongolia and other international ESU chapters, the session offered valuable tips and insights. All attendees received an e-Certificate of Participation.
A Competitive Lineup
This year saw an impressive 221 entries from Malaysian students aged 16 to 20. From this group, 12 finalists were selected to compete in the National Finals. Unfortunately, one finalist – Erica Yip Pei Yuan – had to withdraw due to a sore throat that temporarily affected her voice.
Prizes included:
1st Prize: RM1,500 cash and a flight ticket to the UK to participate in the IPSC Finals
2nd Prize: RM1,000 cash
3rd Prize: RM500 cash
Consolation Prizes: RM250 each for the remaining finalists
Champion’s Institution: RM500 for the winning school
Esteemed Judges
YAM Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah binti Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar (Chairperson, ESU Malaysia)
YM Tan Sri Raja Arshad Raja Tun Uda (Deputy Chairman, ESU Malaysia)
Datuk Azman Ujang (Board Member, ESU Malaysia)
Anna Sen Gupta (Honorary Secretary, ESU Malaysia)
Iris Tan (Board Member, ESU Malaysia)
Josephine Tan (Campus Director, Taylor’s College)
Prof. Dr Sivabala Naidu (President, MELTA)
The judges expressed that selecting the winners was a challenging task, as all 11 finalists delivered speeches with remarkable confidence, conviction and eloquence.
The 11 Finalists:-
Anastasia Belle Lee Shin – MCKL College, Penang – When No One’s Watching
Carrie Lee En Xi – SMJK Tinggi Cina, Melaka – One More Try
Chin Bei Yan – The Seed Resource Centre, PJ – Dreams in the Fast Lane
Chreeshveeran S. Ramesh – Campus Rangers International School, KL – Comparison. Conformity. Craving.
Lim Shuang Hin – Hua High School, Klang – The Unfinished Self
Mathias Oh Chen Jun – Sunway College, Bandar Sunway – Heads, Maybe Tails?
Melanie Wong Yik Lin – Taylor’s College, Subang Jaya – Glitch the System
Nurul Aqilah binti Ruzilan – Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia – Cogito Ergo Sum
Nylea Khaireen binti Mohd Kifli – MRSM Kuala Kubu Bharu – The Hamster Wheel
Ooi Jie Yuee – University of Bristol, UK – One Foot in Front of the Other
Wong Boon Ping – Taylor’s College, Subang Jaya – You’ll Never See It Coming
And the winner is …
Chreeshveeran S. Ramesh of Campus Rangers International School, Kuala Lumpur, was crowned champion of this year’s competition. He will be heading to London next month to compete against about 40 other champions from around the world – his trip fully sponsored by ESU Malaysia and ESU-IPSC 2025.
Second place went to Jenny Ooi Jie Yuee, a student at the University of Bristol, UK, while Chin Bei Yan from The Seed Resource Centre, Petaling Jaya, secured third place.
Chreeshveeran credited his parents, teachers and school for their support.
“My school encourages students to excel not only in academics but also in co-curricular activities like public speaking,” he shared.
When asked about the humour in his speech, Chreeshveeran explained, “The humour was trained, but I naturally enjoy making people laugh. That helped during the impromptu segment.”
He also praised his coach, Stan Lee, whose guidance taught him to connect with the audience and speak with passion.
“It’s important to speak about something you care about. I’m overjoyed to be representing Malaysia,” he said.
Building Bridges through Language
ESU Malaysia Chairperson, YAM Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah, emphasised the broader goals of the competition.
“We hope this competition will enhance communication skills, foster international understanding, and provide a platform for Malaysian youths to develop confidence and mastery of spoken English,” she said.
This marks the sixth year of collaboration between ESU and Taylor’s College.
“Together, we share a vision to nurture the younger generation by empowering them with knowledge and soft skills, including a strong command of English. This enables them to thrive both personally and professionally, ultimately contributing to national progress,” said Josephine Tan, Campus Director at Taylor’s.
This national public speaking competition is an annual affair, and more students from all corners of Malaysia are encouraged to participate.
It’s a great platform to discover talented voices, develop their communication skills, and promote the practice of speaking English with purpose.
“We especially look forward to seeing some participants from East Malaysia, including Sarawak, in future editions,” Tan added.
